grade 4 english language arts/literacy end of year short

2017 Released Items

Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers

Grade 4

English Language Arts/Literacy

End of Year Short/Medium

Literary Text Set


2017 Released Items: Grade 4 End-of-Year Short/Medium Literary Text Set

The End-of-Year short/medium (S/M) literary text set requires students to

read a literary text and answer questions.

The 2017 blueprint for the grade 4 End-of-Year S/M literary text set includes

Evidence-Based Selected Response/Technology-Enhanced Constructed Response items.

Included in this document:

• Answer key and standards alignment

• PDFs of each item with the associated text

Additional related materials not included in this document:

• PARCC English Language Arts/Literacy Assessment: General Scoring Rules for the 2015 Summative Assessment


PARCC Release Items Answer and Alignment Document

ELA/Literacy: Grade 4

Text Type: S-M Lit

Passage(s): from Lacrosse Firestorm

Item Code Answer(s) Standards/Evidence

Statement Alignment

1658_A Item Type: EBSR

Part A: B Part B: B, F

RL 4.1.1

RL 4.2.2


Part A: C Part B: D

RL 4.1.1

RL 4.3.1


Part A: C Part B: C, D

RL 4.1.1

RL 4.3.2


Part A: D Part B: C

RL 4.1.1

RL 4.4.1

1761_A Item Type: EBSR (additional item)

Part A: C Part B: C

RL 4.1.1

RL 4.4.1

1656_A Item Type: TECR (additional item)

Part A: A, C

Part B:

RL 4.1.1

RL 4.3.1


Part A: A, C

Part B: C, D

RL 4.1.1

RL 4.3.1


Part A: C

Part B: D

RL 4.1.1

RL 4.2.1


GO ON ►

Read the passage from Lacrosse Firestorm. Then answer the

questions.

from Lacrosse Firestorm

by Stephanie Peters and Matt Christopher

Copyright restrictions prevent the excerpt from LACROSSE FIRESTORM by Stephanie Peters and Matt Christopher from being displayed in this

format. Please refer to page 48, beginning at "Garry gasped…" and ending with the sentence that begins "After a moment..." on page 51

and beginning at "Gary picked up a rock..." and ending with "Cool." on page 52 from LACROSSE FIRESTORM by Stephanie Peters and Matt

Christopher, © 2008, published by Little, Brown and Company, accessible through your local library.


GO ON ►

1. Part A

Which summary best captures all the important events of the passage?

A. Scottie is clinging to a rock in the middle of the river. Garry steps on a

rock and nearly falls into the water with Scottie. Though he scrapes his hands, Garry is able to save Scottie by pulling him out of the water

and providing him with a sweatshirt.

B. Garry realizes that Scottie is in trouble in the river. He stretches a tree limb over the water. Scottie grabs the tree limb, and with great effort,

Garry pulls Scottie to safety. Scottie is grateful to Garry. Garry helps

him warm up by giving him his sweatshirt.

C. Scottie slips on a rock and falls into the river. He cries for help, and Garry comes running. When Garry is trying to save Scottie, he thinks

for a moment that Scottie has hit his head. Garry then feels the tree branch vibrate, so he knows that Scottie is okay.

D. Garry hears a cry from the river. He runs toward the sound and trips

over a root in his path. He falls to the ground but picks himself up and

crashes through the thicket until he reaches the riverbank. There he sees Scottie and tells him not to worry.

Part B

Which two quotations support the answer to Part A?

A. “A thick root grabbed his sneakers and—‘Ooof!’—he stumbled and

sprawled face-first in the dirt.” (paragraph 1)

B. “Clinging to a jagged rock in the middle of the churning rapids was Scottie!” (paragraph 4)

C. “Garry started to step onto a rock in the river.” (paragraph 5)

D. “Rocks, leaves, bushes—they were no help!” (paragraph 7)

E. “Scottie didn’t answer, and for one heart-stopping moment Garry

thought he’d struck him on the head or swept him from the rock with the leafy limb.” (paragraph 10)

F. “But at last, he dragged Scottie to safety.” (paragraph 13)

1658_A


GO ON ►

2. Part A

In paragraph 1, why did Garry run toward the cry he heard?

A. He was surprised that he was not alone.

B. He was excited to test his own abilities.

C. He was concerned that someone might be hurt.

D. He was happy to break the boredom of the day.

Part B

Which sentence in the passage supports the answer to Part A?

A. “Branches lashed against his face.” (paragraph 1)

B. “A long blaze of dirt streaked his sweatshirt but he barely noticed.” (paragraph 1)

C. “He was up and crashing through a thicket and onto the riverbank.”

(paragraph 1)

D. “‘Is there someone out there?’ he yelled.” (paragraph 2)

1680_A


GO ON ►

3. Part A

Which statement describes the setting of the passage from Lacrosse Firestorm?

A. The setting shows how the time of day affects the characters’ actions

in the story.

B. The setting helps explain the relationships between the characters in

the story.

C. The setting creates a dangerous situation to which the characters must

respond.

D. The setting provides information about the characters’ past experiences.

Part B

Which two sentences from the passage are examples that support the

answer to Part A?

A. “A long blaze of dirt streaked his sweatshirt but he barely noticed.” (paragraph 1)

B. “‘Is there someone out there?’ he yelled.” (paragraph 2)

C. “Clinging to a jagged rock in the middle of the churning rapids was Scottie!” (paragraph 4)

D. “A foaming wave engulfed the boy’s head, cutting off his cry.”

(paragraph 6)

E. “Garry took off his sweatshirt and gave it to him.” (paragraph 14)

F. “Scottie put it on, pulled his knees to his chest, and wrapped his arms

around them.” (paragraph 15)

1759_A


GO ON ►

4. Part A

What is the meaning of the word braced as it is used in paragraph 8?

A. moved carefully and slowly

B. pulled for a short distance

C. stretched as far as possible

D. provided support for the body

Part B

Which phrase from the passage helps the reader understand the meaning of

braced?

A. “. . . yanked until the branch pulled free . . .” (paragraph 8)

B. “. . . sat down on the muddy bank . . .” (paragraph 8)

C. “. . . so he wouldn’t slip forward . . .” (paragraph 8)

D. “. . . swooped the tree limb . . .” (paragraph 9)

1762_A


GO ON ►

5. Part A

What is the meaning of the word engulfed as it is used in paragraph 6?

A. pushed

B. panicked

C. surrounded

D. struggled

Part B

Which phrase from the passage helps the reader understand the meaning of

engulfed?

A. “. . . sucked in his breath.” (paragraph 4)

B. “Clinging to a jagged rock . . .” (paragraph 4)

C. “. . . middle of the churning rapids . . .” (paragraph 4)

D. “. . . looked around desperately.” (paragraph 7)

1761_A (Extra Item)


GO ON ►

6. Part A

Which two character traits best describe Garry?

A. confident

B. curious

C. determined

D. afraid

E. proud

F. obedient

Part B

Select two sentences from paragraphs 8–12 of the passage that support your answers to Part A.

1656_A (Extra Item)


GO ON ►

7. Part A

Which two character traits best describe Garry?

A. confident

B. curious

C. determined

D. afraid

E. proud

F. obedient

Part B

Which two sentences from the passage support the answers to Part A?

A. “Garry started to step onto a rock in the river.” (paragraph 5)

B. “‘Okay, okay!’ Garry looked around desperately.” (paragraph 7)

C. “‘I’ve got it!’ he cried.” (paragraph 8)

D. “He raced up the river edge, yanked until the branch pulled free, and dragged it back.” (paragraph 8)

E. “Scottie didn’t answer, and for one heart-stopping moment Garry

thought he’d struck him on the head or swept him from the rock with

the leafy limb.” (paragraph 10)

F. “Then the branch vibrated in his hands and he guessed that Scottie had grabbed it.” (paragraph 11)

1760_A (Extra Item)


STOP

8. Part A

Which statement expresses a theme of the story?

A. Danger is often beyond one’s control.

B. Nothing is more important than the bond of friendship.

C. Clear thinking is necessary in tense situations.

D. Being prepared for the unexpected requires patience.

Part B

Which detail demonstrates the theme in Part A?

A. Garry hears a cry coming from the river.

B. Garry trips over a root as he stumbles through the thicket.

C. Garry barely notices the dirt on his sweatshirt.

D. Garry yanks a tree branch out of the muddy bank.

1654_A (Extra Item)

grade 4 english language arts/literacy end of year short

Documents